Knitting machine



I Dec. 2, 1924.

C. G. BAUER KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24,. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Wain-WW1 INVENTOR. laal'lrs'ffiazzei.

A TTORN E Y5.

Dec. 2, 1924. 1,51 7,698

C. G. BAUER KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 24, 1920 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 mg." INVENTOR.

I. W g'? 0 I %Z)RNEYS.'

Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

UNITED S'l'TS annie CHARLES G. BAUER, 015 DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO JAMES K. LANNING, Q1 FALL RIVER, MASEJ'AGHUSETTS.

KNITTING MACHINE Application filed January 24, 1920.

To all 'whom' 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLus G. BAUER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of ayne and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Knitting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to knitting machines and has for its primary object the provision of a novel form of driving means for a battery of identical knitting mechanisms, the latter adapted to singly or collectively co-act with said means as the circumstances demand, and said means being designed whereby the knitting mechanisms will be grouped thereabout in a compact manner to cause the machine to occupy small floor or factory space, while producing an arrangement and assemblage of instrumentalities which will render the machine capable of producing an exceedingly large quantity of finished or commercial material.

The invention is adapted to be used in connection with knitting mechanisms of the character shown in my Patent No. 1,260,954, dated March 26th, 1918, wherein means are employed for producing tubular knitted fabrics of the character intended to be used as a conduit for electric wires or for s milar purposes. In the present invention 1 propose to produce commercial tubular fabric capable of being used as shoe laces, electric wire coverings, conduits or the like, and I have combined a circular seriesof knitting mechanisms arranged concentric with a friction disk, the latter acting as a direct source of motive power for all of said knitting mechanisms.

An important object of the invention resides in the arrangement of a circular series of knitting mechanisms, combining therewith a corresponding number of tensioning mechanisms and combining with all of said mechanisms a means for simultaneously settin the same in motion so that a uniform tension will be set up against the fabric. during the knitting operation.

l/Vith the above and other objects in view which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved constru tion and novel arrangements of parts which will hereinafter be fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Serial No. 353,820.

In the accompanying drawings, has been illustrated, a single and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitations are necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

Figure 1, is a side view of the machine with parts omitted for the purpose of clear ness.

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1, showing the tensioning mecha- 1'11SII1.

Figure 41 is a section taken on line 4.t of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an end view of the tensioning mechanism.

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken through the knitting mechanism showing parts in full lines. 4

In practice, I provide a suitable frame 10 on which is mounted a centrally located driven shaft 11, the same disposed vertically at its upper end with a pulley 12 adapted to be connected with a belt or other suitable power transmitting means so that rotary motion will be imparted to said shaft. Supported by the frame between the ends of the driven shaft is a table 13 on which knitting mechanisms 15 are pivoted as at 16 so that they may be moved either toward or away from the driven shaft 11 for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

Each of said knitting mechanisms is of identical construction and except for certain alterations in construction, can be the same as the knitting mechanism shown in my Patent No. 1,260,954, granted March 26, 1918. These mechanisms each include a base bracket 17 which provides for the pivotal connection 16 previously referred to and extending through the bracket and secured thereto as at 18 is a guide tube 19 through which the tubular fabric passes in a downward direction as the knitting operation progresses. Embracing a part of said tube 19 is a cam 20 having the customary needle actuating groove 21 for the lugs 22 of reciprocating needles 28. The cam is secured at 2 1 to an outer sleeve 25 whose lower end is formed nto a cylindrical enlargement 26,

the latter equipped with a triction surface 27 which preferably :torrncd of rubber. The table 13 is provided with arcuate slots 28 through which the lower ends oi the tubes l9 extend. These slots open onto the periphery of the table as shown in l gures ii and 52 so that any one of the several mechanisms 15 can be thrown into and out or" active knittingpositions the occasion demands. On the driven shalt is a triction disk 29. the same arranged in horizonta a ignment wi h the friction sur es 2? and as illustrated in Figure 2. the periphery of the disk 29 is ar ranged with such regard to the inner e r otthe slots as to permit the surfaces 2? to be brought into direct contact with the periphery of the disk 29 when the knitting mechanisms are in active knitting positions. Fromthis arrangement it ill be observed that the disk 29' serves as a common source of motive power for the entire group of knitting mechanisms 15 and that the arrangel nent provides for compactness so that the machine can be placed in a compantivelfy srnall'floor space and yet be capable of m anufacturing an exceedingly large quantity of commercial material.

The brackets 1'? of each 01'? said mechanisms 15 provided with a radial lug 30 which is adapted to be engaged by a keeper lug iil formed on a pivoted. latch 32 carried by the table 18. The latches are normally operable and can be singly actuated so th; 3 any one ofthe knitting mechanisms can be thrown out 01" operation without disturbing any ot'the other mechanisms.

In order that a uniform tension car he placed upon the fabric as the latter is in process of manufacture, I provide each 0t said mechanisms 15 with an independent tensioning mechanism 33. the same consistinig; of. a tilting}? frame 3 1- disp=i sed directly beneath its mating mechanism 1.5 and pivotally supported from a bracket carried by the table 13. The frame carries feed rolls 36 and37 between which the tubular taln'ic A is adapted to fed as the same is received from the knitting mecha The supporting shafts 38 and 39 oi said teed rollsare suitably journa-lled in the :tramo $31. and atone side ot the latter said shat e pended with intermeshin gear wheels 41:0 and 41 which operate to cause reed wheels to draw the fabric A in downward direction. The shaft 38 is pro ided with a worm ggear i9 which meshes with a worm 43 a shaft 4a., Said shaft is is also jonrnailed in the frame 3 and it provided sin-11a friction wheel l5'which contacts with tl edriving'tace ot a friction disk 46 on the driven" shaft 11. At the opposite end or": the lir e'is an arm 47 on which a counter balanci WeiQ 'h t IS is mounted. The dis 46 is superposed with respect to the friction wheels {to so under the action of the counter balancing weights 48, said wheel till he held in active contact with the driw ingface of said disk.

From the construction described it will he 0" a'ved that the disks :29 and ll-(l are carried by the same driven shaft 11, and that. from the latter simultaucrmslv erred to the recpectivc knitting; mochand said tensioniug mechanisms, the knitted fabrics to be oper: tivcly way from said knitting" mochrie knitting prom w) is in operaconstruction provides means e exturo oi the talu'ic s even and '7 and the the occasion for :m'idcutally stitch during); the knitting; opis reduced to a minimum. The weight d8 of each tensioning mechanism is "ted to exert its influence against the r o that 2 same will be held under A simultaneous with the operation of I: the fabric from the knitting mecha the wheel in driving cont iction disk 46. is clanud as new 1s In a knitting machine, a plurality of (hitting mechanisms and their tal omps,

'ncludin z a needle actuating}; friction i l irieclir-nisms arranged in a. circular series a l a driving friction disk encircled b said mechanisms: and arranged in driv- U relation to all the needle actuating: disks iercoit. and means for throwing any one of said knitting: mechanisms respectively into and out of drivina' engagement with the driving friction disk while said disk in driving! engagement with the other oi said mechanisms and a product tilkQ-llll-(ifilllllll" ling li'riccirm-disk for said talicaips.

In a knitting; machine. a plurality o" shiitably mounted knittinc; mechanisms and their take-ups, ea h including); a needle actu atiugr friction disk, said mechanisms arranged in a, circular series. a driving triction disk encircled by said mechanisms and arranged in driving; relation to all the needle actuating; disks thereof and moans for independently shifting: said mechanisms with relation to said driving; disk to render one or a selected iuunhc o'l said knitting mechanisms respectively active and iuuctirc while the driving disk is in operation and a product take-up-coutrolliua Friction-"l for said take-ups.

3. In a knitting: machine. a plurality of knitting mechanisms and their takcmps. each including a needle actuating: friction disk, said. mechanisms arraneed in a circular series a driving friction disk encircled by said mechanisms and arranged in drivinc relation to all the needle actuating. d sks thereoh means for independcnt v shifting said mechanisms with respect to said driv- 111g disk to render one or a selected number ii tl of said mechanisms respectively active and inactive while the driving disk is in oper ation, and means for maintaining relatively fixed positions of said mechanisms with respect to said driving disk and a product take-up-control1ing friction-disk for said take-ups.

i. In a knitting machine, a plu'ality of pivotally supported knitting mechanisms and their take-ups, each including a needle actuating friction disk, said mechanisms arranged in a circular series, a driving friction disk encircled by said mechanisms and arranged in driving relation to all the needle actuating disks thereof, means on each of said mechanisms and means co-acting with said first means for actively retaining said needle actuating disks against said driving disk and a product take-upcontrolling friction-disk for said take-ups.

5. In a knitting machine, a plurality of knitting mechanisms and their take-ups, each including a needle actuating friction disk, said mechanisms arranged in a circular series, a driving friction disk encircled by said mechanisms and arranged in driving relation to all the needle actuating disks thereof, a tensioning device for each mechanism, fabric feeding means constituting part of said device, and means between. the driving disk and said feeding means and common to all said feeding means for controlling movements thereof in time with the action of the correlated knitting mechanism.

6. In a knitting machine, a plurality of knitting mechanisms. each including a needle actuating friction disk, said mechanisms arranged in a circular series, a driv ing friction disk encircled by said mechanisms and arranged in driving relation to all the needle actuating disks thereof, a weighted fabric tensioning device for each of said mechanisms and including driven rolls for feeding the fabric from the mechanism in time with the action thereof and a driving friction-disk common to all said tension devices.

7. A. knitting machine comprising a circular series of knitting mechanisms, a power shaft, a needle actuating disk on said shaft, said. mechanisms each having a friction disk in contact with the needle actuating disk, tensioning devices for said mechanisms and including means for feeding the fabrics from said mechanisms in time with the knitting actions thereof, and friction-drive mechanism between the shaft and said fabric-driving means and common to all of the latter for actively controlling the same.

8. In a knitting machine, a circular series of knitting mechanisms, a circular series of tensioning mechanisms, and friction driving mechanism. common to all of said knitting mechan em and also Common to all. of said tensioning mechanisms, the tensioning mechanisms related to the knitting mechanisms so as to uniformly feed the material from said knitting mechanisms in time with the knitting operation.

9. In a knitting machine, a plurality of knitting mechanisms arranged in a circular a plurality of tensioning mechanisms arranged in circular series associated with said knitting mechanisms, a power shaft, tric on disks carried by said shaft for respectively operating the knitting mechanism and said tensioning mechanisms, and m: for respectively throwing said knitting mechanisms into and out of driving engagen'ient with the operating device of said shaft,

10. A knitting machine comprising, a knitting mechanism, needle actuating means therefor, a tilting tensioning mechanism including a plurality of driven rolls and a power transmitting shaft operatively connected with the rolls, a friction wheel on said shaft, a driven friction disk, and weight means on the tension mechanism for holding the friction wheel of the power transmitting shaft against said driven friction disk.

it In a knitting machine, a circular series of knitting mechanisms, a tensioning mechanism associated with each of said knitting mechanisms to exert a constant drag on the materials as they leave said knitting mechanisms, and a driving shaft common to both mechanisms and including a pair of friction disks co-actins therewith to transmit driving motion to all of said knittine; mechanisms and their tensioning mech anisms.

12. i knitting machine comprising a knitting mechanism v a tilting tensioning mechanism, said tensioning mechanism operating to exert a uniform continuous drag on the material as it leaves said knitting mechanism, a driving shaft, friction devices on the shaft respectively co-acting with the aforesaid mechanisms to transmit motion thereto, the tilting tensioning mechanism having a friction wheel engaging its co-acting friction device on said shaft.

13. In a knitting machine. a driving shaft. superposed disks, a knitting mechanism adinstably mounted with relation to the upper disk and provided with means adapted when the mechanism is adiusted to one position to engage with said disk so that power from the disk is taken into said mechanism, and a tilting tensioning mechanism coacting with the knitting mechanism to induce a constant drag on the material as the latter leaves the knitting mechanism, said tensioning mechanism including a set of rolls between which the material passes as it leaves the knitting mechanism, and an actuating shaft for the rolls, the shaft having a friction Wheel engaging with the lower one of said friction disks.

14. In combination, a series of knitting mechanisms, a corresponding series of tensioning mechanisms arranged in a circular series friction ClIi' Til'lg' mechanism, common to said knitting mechanisms and a friction driving mechanism common to said tensioning mechanisms; the latter being related to the knitting; mechanisms so as uniformly to feed the material from said knitting mechanisms in time with the knitting operation.

15. In combination, a series of knitting mechanisms arranged in a circular series and adapted to he frictionally driven, a tensioning mechanism associated with each of said knitting mechanisms to exert drag on the fabrics as they leave said knitting mechanisms and adapted to he trictionally driven, a driving shaft for said mechanisms and two friction drive disks operated by said driving shaft, one of said disks trans inirtinp; driving motion to said knitting mechanisms 'and the other of said disks gnatnre.

CHARLES G. BAUER. 

